Where is the ground on a 240V circuit?

[andreadebiase]

I need to install a 240V receptacle for my new dryer and i dont know what to chose between a 10-3 or 10-2. Which i should go with?
I thought to go with 10-3 because i thought that 10-2 is ungrounded but maybe on a 240V circuit the white wire IS the ground aka i can just use a 10-2?
thank you

[scuba_dave]

New installations require 4 wires & receptacle, so 10-3 is required

[junkcollector]

Use 10/3.

The reason is because you need the two hot wires, a neutral, and a ground. The dryer heating element is operated on 240 volts, and most dryer motors and controls are operated on 120. Hence the reason the neutral (white) is needed. If you just ran 10/2, and connected the black and white (remarked hot) wires to the breaker to provide 240 volts, you would only have a ground and no nuetral. An electric hot water heater, for example, would be wired with 10/2 because no neutral is needed, because it is 240 volts only. {Prior to 1996 NEC, it was legal to install type SE cable which is only 3 wires and in that case the neutral also provided the ground.} (Still OK for existing, not OK for new)

Remember, use a 4 prong receptacle and matching cord for the dryer. There should be a wiring diagram in the instruction manual on how to connect the wires. If you have any questions, post back.

[andreadebiase]

hi
Ok so i got a 10-3 for the dryer and a 4 prongs receptacle.
Does the receptacle need to be located in any specific place in the wall according to code? does it have to be hidden behind the dryer, can it be exposed to the right and above an utility sink? does it have to be GFCI (dont even know if GFCI 240V 30A brakers exhist).
thank you for all your feedback.

[suemarkp]

It is not required to be GFCI protected. I'm not sure if there is a standard location for dryers (ranges typically have a zone low and in the middle where the receptacle should be). You need to stay away from the exhaust duct, so I'd try to be towards the top of the dryer, but still below its top so the cord and plug remain hidden (assuming an in-wall receptacle). If the receptacle is surface mount, then either above or to the side of the dryer would be OK (or even behind, but the dryer will be even further out from the wall this way). The code has no limitations as to where the receptacle must go.

It would be best to not put this above a sink.

[scuba_dave]

I would defintely NOT put it above the sink
Mine is above & to the left of my dryer
Closer to the ceiling then the floor